Once past the female part, a bumblebee must rub its back against the pollen-bearing male part before reaching the nectar source.Īfter feeding on iris nectar, bumblebees normally slip out of the side of the flower through special openings. If there is pollen on the insect’s back from another iris, it will be deposited on this stigma and the setting of fruit will occur via cross-fertilization. To get there, a bumblebee must first push under the upturned female parts. The colorful lines, crests, or blotches on the inner part of the sepal are called “nectar guides.” They have the same purpose as the lights on an airplane runway that is, they guide the insect toward the nectar located at the base of the flower. They can land only on the outer tip of the horizontal sepals. You’ll find that it has devised an ingenious floral architecture that virtually prohibits self-pollination, thereby insuring a more vigorous and robust population.īumblebees are the primary iris pollinators. The next time you encounter an iris growing in the wild, take time to observe the plant closely. It appears in marshes and along stream banks. My favorite species is southern blue flag, which grows about two feet high and displays a yellow blotch at the base of each sepal. Dwarf iris resembles dwarf- crested iris but is slightly taller, has a less conspicuous crest on its sepals and narrower leaves, and favors dry, rocky woodlands. The four-inch high plants literally carpet the ground in places from April into May, and can be observed flowering on into June in the higher elevations. Dwarf-crested iris, which grows in rich woodlands, is no doubt the most common. Three of these species are commonly encountered. veriscolor) - grows wild only as far south as Virginia in the mountains. Northern blue flag - the largest of the blue-colored species (I. To my knowledge, five iris species have been reported from the Smokies region: dwarf-crested iris (Iris cristata), slender blue flag (I. By any name, the irises we encounter here in the southern mountains are among our most showy and interesting wildflowers. And many also know them as “blue flags” for the obvious reason that the blue varieties seemingly hold forth their stately blooms like flags in a parade. Some also know them as “fleur-de-lis” (flower-of-Louis) because the crusader Louis VII selected an iris as his family emblem. The name iris, meaning rainbow, was given to the group of flowers so-called because of their varied and subtle colors. Their shapes and colors and fragrances are almost too intricate to describe. Glimmering by day and atmospheric by night, the prisms are six feet tall, made of panels covered with a dichroic film that reflect the colors of the rainbow, and emit light and a variable-intensity soundtrack of bell sounds when rotated.The irises my wife, Elizabeth, cultivates in our yard are coming into full bloom as I write this. The interactive installation creates an enchanting atmosphere along the plazas, putting visitors at the center of the experience. In collaboration with The Québec Government Office in New York, the we will be kicking off unveiling with fresh Canadian maple syrup taffy made by Chef Dominic Sylvain at the Cabana a Sucre, a pop-up sugar shack. Located on Broadway between 39th and 40th Streets, Prismatica is free and will be available to the public through January 30th. As pedestrians walk through the exhibition, the six-foot-tall, multi-colored prisms fill the plazas with reflections and musical sounds, creating an ever-changing light show. Broadway, Between 41st Street & 36th StreetĪ glimmering winter kaleidoscope has come to the Garment District with Prismatica, an immersive art installation comprised of 25 pivoting prisms that reflect the colors of the rainbow.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |